I'd like to make a shameless plug for what has become my favorite fish.
I'm 55 years old. I've been keeping fish since I was about 10. I started keeping African cichlids about 20 years ago, moving from Malawians and Tanganykans to exclusively Tangs about 10 years ago. I've always enjoyed behavior over fish color or beauty.
I developed an interest in adding shellies a couple of years ago and went through three different species without much success.
I friend suggested I try Lamprologus' similis in early spring. I started with a group of six, which were probably too young when I bought them. I lost four of six. I went back to him mid-summer and bought six more, probably related to the first six I bought.
Within minutes of adding the new fish, a holdover male and a new male locked jaws and fought for 5-10 minutes. After that, the two parted ways and dominance was established.
Since then, there have been no issues with aggression, but the group of seven (lost one of the newbies) has been split into groups of four and three. They both have established spots in the 20-gallon long and preside over their own shell beds.
A week ago, I noticed fry within the group of three! The largest fish are probably 1 1/2 inches long, so they are not full grown, and I doubt they are even a year old.
Before I purchased them, my research told me similis form colonies and don't eat each other's fry. So far, that has been the case. The group of four keep their distance, don't try to pick off fry and rarely need to be chased off.
The mother is meticulous in her maintenance of the spawning bed. Dad hovers over top and occasionally helps out. But the best part is the third member of that group, what I assume is a sub-dominant female, assists in the grooming of the spawning bed. And the mother allows it. I have NEVER seen that in 45 years of fishkeeping!! I'm used to aggressive cichlid temperament in general and conspecific temperament in particular.
It's been refreshing and a joy to watch this group develop, and I'm looking forward to watching a colony develop and the evolution of this fantastic cichlid behavior. Thanks for letting me share.
I'm 55 years old. I've been keeping fish since I was about 10. I started keeping African cichlids about 20 years ago, moving from Malawians and Tanganykans to exclusively Tangs about 10 years ago. I've always enjoyed behavior over fish color or beauty.
I developed an interest in adding shellies a couple of years ago and went through three different species without much success.
I friend suggested I try Lamprologus' similis in early spring. I started with a group of six, which were probably too young when I bought them. I lost four of six. I went back to him mid-summer and bought six more, probably related to the first six I bought.
Within minutes of adding the new fish, a holdover male and a new male locked jaws and fought for 5-10 minutes. After that, the two parted ways and dominance was established.
Since then, there have been no issues with aggression, but the group of seven (lost one of the newbies) has been split into groups of four and three. They both have established spots in the 20-gallon long and preside over their own shell beds.
A week ago, I noticed fry within the group of three! The largest fish are probably 1 1/2 inches long, so they are not full grown, and I doubt they are even a year old.
Before I purchased them, my research told me similis form colonies and don't eat each other's fry. So far, that has been the case. The group of four keep their distance, don't try to pick off fry and rarely need to be chased off.
The mother is meticulous in her maintenance of the spawning bed. Dad hovers over top and occasionally helps out. But the best part is the third member of that group, what I assume is a sub-dominant female, assists in the grooming of the spawning bed. And the mother allows it. I have NEVER seen that in 45 years of fishkeeping!! I'm used to aggressive cichlid temperament in general and conspecific temperament in particular.
It's been refreshing and a joy to watch this group develop, and I'm looking forward to watching a colony develop and the evolution of this fantastic cichlid behavior. Thanks for letting me share.
